Organoaluminum catalyst

Abstract

An organoaluminum reaction product of A.) a ligand of the formula I, wherein R<SUB>1 </SUB>represents an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, a C<SUB>3-24 </SUB>silyl group, or hydrogen, R<SUB>2</SUB>, R<SUB>3</SUB>, R<SUB>4</SUB>, R<SUB>5</SUB>, R<SUB>6</SUB>, R<SUB>7</SUB>, R<SUB>12</SUB>, and R<SUB>13 </SUB>are the same or different and represent an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, a C<SUB>3-24 </SUB>silyl group, halide, or hydrogen, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R<SUB>4 </SUB>and R<SUB>13 </SUB>represents hydrogen, R<SUB>8 </SUB>represents an alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, a C<SUB>3-24 </SUB>silyl group, halide, hydroxyl radical, or hydrogen, E represents O, S, Se, or Te, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, and B.) an aluminum compound of formula AlR<SUB>9</SUB>R<SUB>10</SUB>R<SUB>11</SUB>, wherein R<SUB>9 </SUB>and R<SUB>10 </SUB>are the same or different and represent C<SUB>1-20 </SUB>alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, or hydrogen, and R<SUB>11 </SUB>is a C<SUB>1-20 </SUB>alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl or alkoxy group, hydrogen, or halogen is useful as a polymerization catalyst, particularly for the homopolymerization or copolymerization of an alkylene oxide.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the homopolymerization or copolymerization of an alkylene oxide in the presence of an organoaluminum reaction product of
 A.) a ligand of the formula I, 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 12  and R 13  are the same or different and represent an alkyl group or hydrogen, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R 4  and R 13  represents hydrogen, 
         R 8  represents the hydroxyl radical, 
         E represents sulfur S, and 
         n is 1, and 
         B.) an aluminum compound of formula AlR 9 R 10 R 11 , wherein R 9  and R 10  are the same or different and represent a C 1-20 alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, or hydrogen, and R 11  is a C 1-20 alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, hydrogen, or halogen; 
         wherein the process comprises the step of contacting a reaction mixture comprising at least one alkylene oxide with the organoaluminum reaction product of the ligand of the formula I and the aluminum compound as a polymerization catalyst. 
       
     
     
       2. The process according to  claim 1  wherein the polymerization is conducted in a slurry of a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
       3. The process according to  claim 2  wherein the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide. 
     
     
       4. The process according to  claim 3  wherein ethylene oxide is copolymerized with epichlorohydrin or 1,2-cyclohexene epoxide. 
     
     
       5. The process according to  claim 4  wherein the molar ratio between epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide or the molar ratio between 1,2-cyclohexene epoxide and ethylene oxide is from 0.01:1 to 1:1.